Sourcing cyanocobalamin from China
Unmixed cyanocobalamin from China carries 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Supplement use requires checking the permitted vitamin forms; feed and pharmaceutical uses have separate requirements. Specify identity, assay and grade before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources cyanocobalamin.
Zero duty on unmixed cyanocobalamin
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, unmixed vitamin B12 and its derivatives under 2936 26 00 00 carry 0% duty from China. Heading 2936 covers vitamins, provitamins, their vitamin-use derivatives and mixtures. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an export control for waste to this line. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance and any requirement for the shipment. It is labelled as an export control in the supplied facts, rather than an import control.
The table shows intended-use grades sharing the same tariff line, not separate commodity codes. Declare the full composition, including any carrier, when confirming the commodity code. Finished supplement tablets and capsules are usually food preparations or medicines. See the wider vitamins guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unmixed cyanocobalamin, food ingredient grade | 2936 26 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify cyanocobalamin identity and concentration
Write cyanocobalamin into the purchase specification rather than accepting a generic vitamin B12 description. Specify unmixed powder or the complete formulation, intended use, assay basis, moisture, particle size and any coating. For diluted material, name the carrier and agree how concentration will be reported.
Agree a batch certificate of analysis, identity testing and stability evidence supporting the retest or expiry date. HMRC allows stabilisers and specified additives within the vitamin heading only for preservation or transport purposes; review carrier-containing products before assuming the unmixed code applies.
For supplement manufacture, check the permitted vitamin forms and finished-product labelling requirements. Confirm feed-additive authorisation requirements with the relevant feed authority, and pharmaceutical GMP evidence and active substance registration requirements with MHRA for the intended use. An importer of finished supplements is legally responsible for composition, safety and labelling.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business batch of unmixed cyanocobalamin powder under 2936 26 00 00, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £34,500, so it is £6,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check that the sample, invoice and batch certificate all identify cyanocobalamin, rather than another cobalamin form.
Assay: test the shipped batch against the agreed assay basis; for diluted powder, verify the declared carrier and concentration.
Contaminants: agree batch testing for heavy metals, microbiology and residual solvents relevant to the manufacturing process and intended grade.
Packing: check seals, liners, batch references and retest or expiry dates against the certificate. Agree light-proof packing and storage conditions. Use the inspection guide to organise sampling and arrival checks.
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What goes wrong
A generic vitamin B12 certificate can leave the actual chemical form unclear. A diluted powder can be mistaken for unmixed material, or its assay can be reported on a different basis from the purchase specification. Resolve identity, carrier composition and assay reporting before accepting the batch.
Potency below the agreed specification can undermine the finished product's label claim. Damaged seals, moisture exposure or unsupported expiry dates also create avoidable disputes. Retain a representative sample and hold questionable stock while identity, assay and packing discrepancies are investigated.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cyanocobalamin from China?
Unmixed cyanocobalamin under 2936 26 00 00 carries 0% duty from China in the supplied tariff facts, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown.
Does cyanocobalamin with a carrier use the same code?
Do not assume it does. Give your broker the complete composition and the purpose of each additive before confirming classification.
Can I use cyanocobalamin in food supplements?
Check the chemical form against the permitted vitamin forms and meet the finished supplement's labelling requirements. A supplier's food-grade description alone is insufficient.
What should I test when cyanocobalamin arrives?
Check identity, assay on the agreed basis, declared carriers and relevant contaminants. Match batch labels and dates to the certificate and inspect seals and liners.